RESUMO
To determine an association between copper deficiency and neural tube defects in Northern Iran, which is reported to have a high prevalence of neural tube defects. This hospital based case control study was conducted on 13 mothers with newborns having neural tube defects and 35 healthy controls mothers in Northern Iran during 2005-2006. Serum copper was measured by spectrophotometery. Serum copper level in mothers with NTD affected newborns and mothers with normal newborns was 15.9 +/- 6.1 micromol/litter and 15.2 +/- 6.2 micromol/litter, respectively. Overall 15.4% of mothers in case group and 25.7% of mothers in control group had copper deficiency. Logistic regression analysis showed no association between the presence of NTD and copper deficiency [OR =0.5, 95% Cl: 0.05-3.2]. This study showed that there is no association between the presence of neural tube defects [NTD] and copper deficiency